SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. —
When the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, take to the skies in 2022, three of the officers main the staff will probably be from the Air Force’s high air dominance squadron in 2020, the 79th Fighter Squadron.
Capt. Travis Grindstaff, 79th FS flight surgeon and Capt. Jacob Impellizzeri, 79th FS pilot, will be part of former 79th FS Tiger, Maj. Ian Lee, Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron left wing pilot, on the staff.
The need to hitch the Air Force was instilled in each Impellizzeri and Grindstaff at a younger age, with Impellizzeri being propelled into the aviation world.
“Between my dad taking our family to the airshow every year in Dayton to see the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels and him being a pilot in the Air Force, I have been around aviation all my life which ultimately led to myself becoming a fighter pilot,” mentioned Impellizzeri.
Unlike his fellow teammates, becoming a member of the Air Force was not Lee’s radar till in a while.
“My mother actually made me apply to the Air Force Academy, which turned out to be a great decision,” mentioned Lee. “There were a lot of job opportunities coming out of the academy but I knew the most about being a pilot, so I pursued that.”
Once by faculty and their respective specialised coaching, all of them got here collectively in a single squadron, the 79th Fighter Squadron, the latest winner of the Raytheon Trophy.
“The Raytheon Trophy is awarded to the top air dominance squadron in the entire combat Air Force,” mentioned Impellizzeri. “Just being around the type of people it takes to win that achievement is one of the main reasons we are in the positions that we are in, today.”
Grindstaff and Impellizzeri will probably be becoming a member of Lee, making up the best proportion from one squadron on this 12 months’s Thunderbirds staff.
“We are all three excited to be together on the Thunderbirds team,” mentioned Grindstaff. “Taking that professionalism, dedication and infectious nature that we all have to make things better and grow as a family over the next year or two.”
From a fighter squadron executing fight deployments to displaying delight, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents, by airshows and flyovers; Grindstaff, Impellizzeri and Lee could have the chance to excite and encourage individuals everywhere in the world.
“Most of the time people around the country just see jets flying, they don’t get to see the mission, the maintainers working 24/7 or other personnel who support the mission and keep this country safe,” mentioned Grindstaff. “The Thunderbirds provide an opportunity for the public to see what we do and to be proud of what we do in fifteen minutes of an airshow. That’s how they recruit, retain and inspire but show our allies and Americans the professionalism, discipline and dedication to freedom for not only them but people all around the world.”
Grindstaff, Impellizzeri and Lee will probably be members of the Thunderbirds subsequent 12 months, however are scheduled to return to Shaw a lot before you suppose.
“I’ve spent most of my Air Force career at Shaw Air Force Base, a total of four years, so I am excited to get back,” mentioned Lee. “See you again in April, 2022, for the Shaw Air and Space Expo. All for freedom!”
